[Potassium depletion. Glucose intolerance. Senile diabetes. Study on eventual pathogenetic relationships 1]

Oral tolerance of glucose was determined in 40 aged subjects with fasting blood sugar values of less than 100 mg/100 ml 56% had normal tolerance, 22% normal for age, and 22% values of diabetic type. In young subjects, only 2% display sugar metabolism disturbances. After 21 days' administration of potassium salts, 34.78% of the normal and 62.5% of the diabetic subjects showed reduced mean blood sugar values for the test, with significant falls at 120' and 180'. Reference is made to other conditions in which potassium depletion is coupled with glucose intolerance, e.g. old age. The pathogenetic significance of potassium depletion with respect to senile diabetes is discussed.